The HONOR Magic 6 Pro is an advanced unit that will impress innovative tech lovers. However, this innovation comes with some caveats. Unfortunately, when you push the envelope, you expect some issues. Accordingly, I wasn’t surprised that there were some glitches within HONOR’s matrix. Yet, I forgave these shortcomings as the exceptional AI, market-leading battery, and phenomenal camera are a real head-turner.
Alongside this, the phone feels spectacular. The high-end casing is pleasant to hold, and the screen is super responsive. When you combine the next-gen AI technology with the buttery smooth and responsive screen, you get a performance that is to die for. Moreover, if you love to stream, game, or create content, then this device stands up against its peers. Consequently, though it is pricey when compared to other Android phones, I think you get a lot of bang for your buck.
What’s in the box of the HONOR Magic 6 Pro?
- The sleek packaging has a professional edge. Furthermore, it can be recycled if you so wish.
- The HONOR Magic 6 Pro is available in 2 colours. I was sent the Epi Green, but a discreet black option can be picked. The device has an impressive front-facing camera and a large rear cluster of lenses. Additionally, the tactile case is easy to hold, reducing the risk of accidents. The body is streamlined and there are no unnecessary buttons or switches.
- A USB-C to USB-C cable is provided for charging. (No charger is provided).
- Open the sim holder with the tool.
Technical aspects.
The HONOR Magic 6 Pro uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 12 GB of RAM. This combination delivers a powerful, smooth performance that puts other devices to shame. Moreover, no matter what game or program you throw at it, it never stumbles or overheats. Subsequently, if you love to snap photos, create movies, or game on the move, this phone has you covered.
Processing power is all well and good, but if your battery is poor, you’ll be out of juice in no time. Thankfully, the industry-leading silicon-carbon 5600 mAh capacity battery is impressive. If you are a moderate user, you can expect to get around a day and a half usage before charging. However, if you love to push your phone to its limit, you’ll probably enjoy around 18 to 22 hours of heavy usage before reaching for a charging cable.
When you combine the 2 elements, you get an almighty powerful phone that is impressive on many levels. Yet, these 2 key components weren’t the thing that blew me away the most. No, that accolade is reserved for the incredible AI technology and the awe-inspiring camera. Finally, I cannot forget the impressive OS.
The HONOR Magic 6 Pro has an awesome camera.
Purists hate mobile camera phones. Yet, there is no escaping the benefits of this modern movement. I adore my SLR, but the HONOR Magic 6 Pro gave it a real run for its money. The 50 MP main lens has a variable aperture (f1.4 – f2.0), a 180-MP telescopic lens with a 2.5x optical zoom or 100x digital zoom, and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens. Alongside this, there is a 50 MP front-facing camera and a 3D depth camera.
I loved each of these options, except for the ultra-wide lens. Unfortunately, the phone tries to compensate and alter images beyond what is necessary. The result is a mixed bag of oversaturated colours or photos that are stretched beyond what is expected or acceptable. The other lenses are incredible by comparison. The resolution and depth are spectacular. Additionally, the low-light performance was amazing, and I loved the quality of the front-facing option.
The video recording will bring a smile to your face. Each of the lenses is capable of recording at 4K, but it is worth noting that 60 FPS is the maximum option for the rear camera and 30 FPS for the front. If this isn’t enough, there is a movie mode if you fancy trying something different.
AI.
I should embrace AI, but I admit I’m still on the fence. The HONOR Magic 6 Pro has proved that AI technology is going to be a massive part of the mobile phone industry. When incorporated correctly, you enjoy a user-friendly experience that enhances many of our daily apps. For example, Magic Text allows you to extract text to add to another app or make a phone call. Now, I know there is a form of copy and paste, but this takes it to the next level.
Furthermore, the Magic Portal pushes this idea to the next level. You can flit between screenshots, images, text, and more as you grab the bits that capture your eye. These items can then be placed into another app to help autofill information. Though this may seem a little clunky at the moment, I can see this smooth process becoming commonplace in the not-so-distant future.
HONOR promises to incorporate more AI features within its interface in the future. Apparently, you will be able to activate apps and respond to notifications with a certain look. Alternatively, you can use images and text to create videos. I’m not sure how effective these features will be, but they sound great, and I can’t wait to see how well they work.
Usability.
The HONOR Magic 6 Pro uses HONOR’s MagicOS 8, which is based on Android 14. As you’d expect, there are plenty of unnecessary software elements that can be ignored. This didn’t concern me as I uninstalled anything irrelevant. What concerned me more was the occasional software crash and other minor issues. I expected a phone with advanced ideas to have some teething problems, so I swept these concerns under the carpet. Accordingly, if you can put up with a few glitches and the odd reload, then you will adore the rapid interface and the wonderfully vibrant screen.
Build quality.
A phone with a hefty price tag has to be extremely well-built. This device didn’t disappoint at all! The anti-drop display is created using HONOR’s NanoCrystal shield. Though it isn’t bulletproof, it will protect your device in the event of some scenarios. This was reassuring, as I’m forever fearful of breaking a touchscreen phone. Furthermore, I hate the idea of having to buy a case to keep things safe.
The risk of dropping this phone is reduced thanks to the impressive tactile grip case. The slightly rigged body feels great to hold, and the large camera cluster doesn’t cause an imbalance with the rest of the device. Finally, there is no 3.5mm audio port. This may disappoint you, but I prefer the streamlined finish. Therefore, if you love to listen to music or a podcast, you will have to use a wireless option.
Is the HONOR Magic 6 Pro worth it?
The HONOR Magic 6 Pro is a phenomenal device that has a few teething issues. The minor software faults can be easily ironed out. What’s more, the inclusion of extra AI features makes this stand out from its peers. I understand that it has a hefty price point, but if you want a market-leading option, then you have to invest. Your well-spent money will buy you an incredible camera, top-notch AI, and a battery that performs exceptionally well. It is for these reasons that I have to recommend that you buy it here!
(More information on HONOR can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! HONOR provided a sample for an unbiased and free review!)
